Himachal calls for POTA-type laws

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today demanded POTA-type laws to deal with terrorism.

''The Centre should enact POTA-type laws to deal effectively with terrorist and disruptive activities,'' Prof Dhumal told the National Intergration Council meeting.

He said his Government had issued necessary instructions to all law enforcing agencies to deal effectively with FIRs relating to communal problems.

''Such FIRs are treated as special reported cases in which necessary action is initiated immediately,'' he added.

Referring to recent anti-minority violence in Orissa and Karnataka, trigerred reportedly by alleged conversion of tribals, the Chief Minister said the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2006 was in force to prevent forcible conversions.

''Community policing at various levels from beat, police station, sub division and district level has been started to create an environment to prevent forcible conversion,'' he added.

UNI YJ GL NS1641